Method for Processing and/or Filling Packagings

ABSTRACT

Described and depicted is a method for processing and/or filling packagings, in particular cardboard composite packagings, in a processing and/or filling machine. In order to reduce the mechanistic effort required for high throughput and/or to enable more flexible operation, it is provided that packaging blanks are transferred in a take-over station in a cyclical sequence to the mandrels of a cyclically rotating mandrel wheel passing the take-over station, that regularly after a certain number of packaging blanks have been taken over in the take-over station by the mandrels passing the take-over station to a further certain number of mandrels subsequently passing the take-over station, no packaging blank is transferred in the take-over station, in at least one moulding station, the packaging blanks transferred to the mandrel wheel in the take-over station are cyclically processed on a mandrel of the mandrel wheel, in that after passing the at least one moulding station in a transfer station to all cells of a transport device passing the transfer station, packagings which are open on one side are transferred cyclically one after another from the mandrel wheel, and that the packagings which are transferred to the cells and are open on one side are fed in the cells of the transport device to at least one processing station for processing and/or to at least one filling station for filling.

The invention relates to a method for processing and/or filling packagings, in particular cardboard composite packagings, in a processing and/or filling machine, in which packaging blanks are transferred in a take-over station cyclically one after another to the mandrels, passing the take-over station, of a cyclically rotating mandrel wheel.

Devices and methods for filling packagings with products, especially in the form of foodstuffs, and/or for processing the packagings to be filled or the filled packages are known in various embodiments. In this regard, the filling of the packagings with, preferably free-flowing, foodstuffs and the processing of the packagings takes place in a sterile or aseptic environment of a filling machine, for example. Given that the foodstuff should remain preserved for a long time after the filling of the packagings, the most germ-free possible filling is desired. To this end, the filling machines comprise, for example sterilisation spaces or aseptic chambers, in which the packagings are sterilised and subsequently filled and closed under the most sterile conditions possible.

In this connection, packagings which are open at the top to provide an opening for filling are particular used. The packagings are, for example, cardboard composite packagings which are formed from a laminate comprising a cardboard layer and outer, in particular thermoplastic, plastic layers, such as polyethylene (PE). The cardboard gives the packagings sufficient stability so that the packages, which are made up of the packaging and the product filled therein, can be easily handled and stacked, for example. The plastic layers protect the cardboard from moisture and the foodstuff from the absorption of undesirable substances from the packaging. In addition, further layers can be provided, such as an aluminium layer, which prevent a diffusion of oxygen and other gases through the packaging.

The packagings can be manufactured, preferably in the filling machine, from a package precursor. Package material blanks can, for example, be used as a packaging precursor, which can be pre-assembled if required and form a packaging blank, for example by sealing longitudinal edges. Corresponding packaging blanks are typically mounted on mandrels of a so-called mandrel wheel, wherein a region of the packaging blanks projecting from the mandrels is folded against the end face of the mandrel and sealed there to form a packaging bottom or packaging head. Alternatively, the packaging material used for the packaging precursor can be unwound in a virtually infinite manner from a roll. Package material blanks are folded at bending lines to first form a packaging sleeve and a packaging bottom. The packaging sleeve and the packaging bottom are closed by sealing overlapping sections of the package material. The packaging head initially remains open. If required, the packaging head can also be closed first and the packaging can be filled through the still open bottom, preferably facing upwards. Whether or not the closed package is subsequently turned for storage, transport and/or sale, i.e. where the top and bottom of the finished package are, can then basically be left undetermined.

The packagings are then fed into a sterilisation zone of the filling machine. This is usually carried out by the successive transfer of the packagings to the cell carriers receiving the packagings of a transport device. The transport device, which is typically configured as a cell chain, then ensures that the packagings are transported through the sterilisation zone of the filling machine at a defined speed and at a defined distance from each other.

The packagings are preheated in the sterilisation zone, if required. For this purpose the packagings are blown with hot sterile air in at least one processing station. Subsequently, the inner surfaces of the packagings and at least the head area of the outer surface of the packagings are exposed to a sterilising agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, in at least one processing station and sterilised in the process. The sterilised packages can then be dried with sterile air in at least one processing station. The sterilised packagings are transferred into the filling and sealing zone where they are preferably filled with a foodstuff in at least one processing station. In this regard, the foodstuff is in particular free-flowing. In a plurality of cases, the foodstuff is a beverage. The filled packaging is then sealed in at least one processing station, forming the package as such. The closed package is then transported out of the filling and sealing zone by the transport device and then removed from the corresponding cells of the cell carriers of the transport device.

In some filling machines the packagings are transported from the transport device in a straight line through the filling machine. Corresponding filling machines are also designated as inline systems. In other filling machines, the so-called rotary systems, the packagings describe a more or less are-shaped movement, which may include one or more sections of an are.

The packagings open on one side and transferred by the mandrel wheel to the cells of the transport device in the form of a cell chain are all moved through the aseptic chamber in the cycle of the cyclically driven cells of the transport device. In this connection, it can be provided that a specific processing of the packaging and/or filling takes place in one cycle. However, it can also be provided that a specific process, such as sterilisation or filling, is distributed over several cycles. Given that the transport device ensures that the packagings open on one side are transported with a constant cycle, two or more processing stations for processing and/or two or more filling stations for filling must then be provided successively.

Thus, for example, sterilisation can be achieved in two successive processing stations, wherein the packagings open on one side are rinsed with hydrogen peroxide or another sterilising agent in each of the two processing stations, namely in one cycle in the first processing station for sterilisation and in another cycle in the second processing station for sterilisation. In this way, an overall longer exposure time for the sterilant is rendered possible. Alternatively or additionally, a packaging open on one side can also be partially filled with the product to be filled in one cycle in a first filling station in order to also be partially filled in another, subsequent filling station in another cycle. Due to the partial duplicate filling of the packagings, the desired filling quantity is achieved in two filling steps, which can reduce foaming and prevent over-foaming during filling.

Corresponding filling machines have proven themselves, but require more equipment for the duplication of individual processing stations and/or filling stations as well as more space for the filling machine. It will therefore be necessary to consider in detail whether processing stations and/or filling stations should be provided multiple times or whether the cycle times should be slowed down. The latter has the effect that the packagings stand still for a longer period of time under each processing station in order to provide sufficient processing and/or filling times. However, longer cycle times reduce the maximum throughput of processed and/or filled packages to be achieved.

Furthermore, the cycle times for specific processing steps are often fixed with the filling machines described. This may even include the time for deceleration, the time for a specific activity during processing, such as the time required for the sterilant to act or the sealing time to close the packagings, and the time for acceleration. However, the reasons for this may vary. For example, it can be ensured that an optimum filling result and/or processing result is achieved, for example that local overheating is prevented as well as insufficient sterilisation or sealing. However, in many cases, this is also determined by legal or approval requirements, which may not be readily changed by the bottler. It follows that even the throughput of such a filling machine cannot easily be reduced. In many cases, however, this is desirable in order to avoid down times between subsequent filling processes or batches to be filled or to shut down the filling machine and restart it later.

The object of the present invention is therefore to design and further develop the above-mentioned and previously described method in such a way that the mechanistic effort at high throughput is reduced and/or a more flexible operation is enabled.

This object is solved according to claim 1 by a method for processing and/or filling of packagings, especially composite carton packagings, in a processing and/or filling machine,

-   -   in which packaging blanks are transferred in a take-over station         cyclically one after another to the mandrels, passing the         take-over station, of a cyclically rotating mandrel wheel;     -   in which regularly after a certain number of packaging blanks         have been taken over in the take-over station to the mandrels         passing the take-over station, no packaging blank is transferred         in the take-over station to a further certain number of mandrels         subsequently passing the take-over station;     -   in which the packaging blanks transferred to the mandrel wheel         in the take-over station are cyclically processed on a mandrel         of the mandrel wheel in at least one moulding station;     -   in which, after the passage of the at least one moulding station         in a transfer station, packagings open on one side are         transferred by the mandrel wheel cyclically one after another to         all cells of a transport device passing the transfer station,         and     -   in which the packagings transferred to the cells and open on one         side in the cells of the transport device are fed to at least         one processing station for processing and/or at least one         filling station for filling.

According to the invention, the transfer of packaging blanks in a take-over station to mandrels of a mandrel wheel is therefore provided, as is already known in principle. The mandrel wheel and thus the mandrels continue to rotate cyclically. The mandrels passing the take-over station receive packaging blanks in the take-over station, which are then transported with the corresponding mandrels to at least one moulding station. In the at least one moulding station, for example, the bottom of the packaging blanks can be closed or a preparatory step such as pre-folding and/or heating of the packaging blank can be carried out. However, not to all mandrels passing the take-over station a packaging blank is transferred. After a certain number of packaging blanks have been successively taken over in the take-over station by the mandrels of the mandrel wheel, no packaging blank is regularly transferred to at least one further following mandrel in the take-over station. Therefore, this means that a predetermined number of packaging blanks are always transferred to the mandrels successively, after which an also predetermined but, if necessary, different number of mandrels pass the take-over position without these mandrels taking over packaging blanks. Then again the predetermined number of mandrels picks up packaging blanks one after another before the corresponding number of mandrels passes the take-over station again without picking up packaging blanks. Furthermore, all this is preferably done during a constant cycle of the mandrel wheel.

Consequently, the processing steps of the packaging blanks on the mandrel wheel are independent of the infeeding of the mandrel wheel with packaging blanks. Preferably each packaging blank is the same time on the mandrel wheel and the same time in at least one moulding station. The same time is therefore always available for forming and in particular closing one end of a packaging blank in at least one moulding station, thus ensuring that the packaging blanks are reliably formed. In this connection, the number of packaging blanks that are successively transferred to the mandrel wheel and the number of mandrels which do not take over any packaging blanks afterwards, does not play a significant role.

After the passage of the at least one moulding station, the packaging blanks taken over in the take-over station are transferred in a transfer station to cells of a transport device which pass the transfer station one after another. Although mandrels without packaging blanks partially pass the transfer station, all cells with packagings open on one side are still supplied by the mandrels of the mandrel wheel. This means that all cells that pass the transfer station one after another are each transferred a packaging closed on one side in the transfer station. This normally prevents cells of the transport device without packagings open on one side from being moved through the adjoining plant section to at least one processing station and/or filling station. In the event of malfunctions or the like, it may naturally occur that no packaging open on one side is transferred to individual cells. Given that the mandrel wheel is cyclically driven, the transfer of the packagings open on one side from the mandrel wheel to the cells of the transport device also takes place cyclically. The packagings transferred to the cells, which are open on one side, are then in the cells of the transport device fed successively to at least one processing station for processing and/or at least one filling station for filling. However, empty cells, i.e. cells without packaging open on one side, are not transported to the processing station and/or filling station during normal operation. Therefore, there may be a larger gap between individual cells than between other cells, wherein in the area of the gaps the at least one processing and/or the at least one filling may be suspended. Given that the transfer from the mandrel wheel to the cells takes place in a defined manner, it is known when a packaging for processing and/or filling is provided in the at least one processing station and/or filling station and when it is not.

This ultimately allows a lower throughput to be generated without fundamentally changing the operation, for example, processing and/or filling. Only individual processing steps and/or filling steps are omitted without this having a significant influence on the processing steps and/or filling steps that take place. In this way, flexibility in the operation of the corresponding plant or machine can be increased in order to avoid a plant downtime if necessary. For example, quasi-continuous operation can be maintained without having to shut down and restart production and/or without having to carry out additional cleaning cycles due to interrupted production.

In a first particularly preferred embodiment of the method, the packagings transferred to the cells and open on one side are stopped cyclically in the cells of the transport device in at least one processing station for processing and/or in at least one filling station for filling. This results in an at least sectionally clocked operation. In this case, the advantages of the invention come into play to a particular extent. For example, the same cycle times can then be maintained, regardless of the infeeding of the mandrel wheel. This is possible, for example, if a packaging blank is always pulled onto each mandrel one after another and the corresponding packaging open on one side is transferred to a cell in the transfer station. However, this is also possible if at regular intervals one or more mandrels do not take over a packaging blank. Ultimately, vacancies are then created which do not lead to a processing and/or filling of a package. Thus, not only can a reduction in throughput be achieved with minimal effort, but the extent to which throughput is to be reduced can also be set or specified in a particularly simple manner. It is only necessary to specify that more mandrels in succession do not take over a packaging blank and/or that mandrels do not take over a packaging blank from time to time.

If this is easily possible and/or leads to an improvement in processing and/or filling, it may also be appropriate for the processing and/or filling duration, in particular the duration of a processing and/or filling cycle, in the at least one processing station and/or the at least one filling station to be longer than the duration of a mandrel wheel cycle. Given that not all mandrels transfer a packaging open on one side to a cell, gaps are created in the series of successive cells and packagings. This gap also corresponds to a certain amount of time that is additionally available for processing and/or filling the remaining packagings. If a single packaging is missing in the gap, the duration of a cycle is ultimately available additionally for processing and/or filling as required. If there is more than one packaging, the additional time available is correspondingly greater. It is only when the respective additional time is exceeded that a risk arises that, without further measures, the following packagings or cells will run into the preceding packagings or cells, thus leading to an undesired collision. Thus, by the deliberate omission of the take-over of specific packaging blanks, more time can be made available for processing in at least specific processing stations and/or more time for filling in at least specific filling stations.

For example, to fill larger volumes or products that are more prone to foam, it may be advisable to fill more slowly and/or to extend the filling over a longer period of time and/or to allow more time for the foam to disintegrate. In appropriate cases, it is then possible to dispense with the transfer of a packaging blank to individual mandrels in order to provide the additional time required for processing and/or filling.

In order for a group of uniformly spaced packagings to close up with a preceding group of uniformly spaced packagings and thus to close up a larger gap originally present between the groups of uniformly spaced packages, it is advisable to provide a distance between two successive stations which is also longer than the increment of the packagings in one cycle. The distance is preferably provided in front of the station where a longer cycle time is used than at the previous station. If the first station is slower than the mandrel wheel cycle, the distance can be provided between this first processing station and the mandrel wheel. The spacing ensures that the packagings waiting due to the in sections longer cycle time do not block any processing station and/or filling station. As a result of the distance, the preceding processing station and/or filling station is accessible for the following group of packagings, even if packagings are still waiting in the area of the distance for the at least one slowed down method step, which may be a processing step and/or a filling step.

In the above connection, it is particularly expedient if the corresponding distance between the two stations is at least substantially equal to the distance between the last packaging of a certain number of packagings transferred to the cells transferred in the transfer station and the first packagings of a subsequent certain number of packagings transferred to the cells transferred in the transfer station after the passage of the transfer device of a certain number of mandrels of the mandrel wheel not provided with packaging blanks. In other words, due to the at least one mandrel wheel, which regularly does not transfer any packaging to a cell in the transfer station, there is a gap between two packagings or cells after the transfer station along the transport device, whose length is a function of the number of mandrels which do not transfer any packaging to a cell successively in the transfer station. If required, the length of the additional gap is calculated by multiplying the increment of cells transported by the transport device per cycle by the number of mandrels that do not transfer any packaging to a cell in the transfer station.

The advantages according to the invention come into play in particular when the packaging blanks transferred to the mandrel wheel in the take-over station are cyclically folded, heated, sealed and/or closed on one side on a mandrel of the mandrel wheel in at least one moulding station. In this case, the sequence in which packaging blanks are taken over and not taken over by the mandrel wheel has no influence on these activities. The corresponding processing steps on the mandrel wheel can then always be carried out in an optimum manner, which simplifies control, for example, but also ensures that the package blanks are reliably closed on one side.

Alternatively or additionally, the described method is particularly suitable if the packagings transferred to the cells and open on one side are stopped in the cells of the transport device in cycles in at least one processing station for heating, sterilising, drying and/or closing. The heating, sterilisation, drying and/or closing of the packagings must be carried out as required in a precise manner and at precise times in order to achieve good processing results and/or to comply with legal or regulatory requirements. This is because these requirements can then be complied with throughout, even if the way changes when packaging blanks are taken over in the take-over station. Finally, at least one processing station and/or filling station can be selected for which the cycle time is varied without necessarily influencing the cycle times of at least one other processing station and/or filling station.

In addition, it is particularly expedient not to transfer any packaging blanks to one, two, three, four or five mandrels passing successively the take-over station regularly after the take-over of one, two, three, four or five packaging blanks in the take-over station to the mandrels passing the take-over station. Then relatively small groups of packagings can be transported in the same way along the at least one processing station and/or filling station, wherein nonetheless, larger gaps can still be provided at relatively short intervals in the sequence of packagings transferred in the transfer station in order to be able to set certain cycle times differently and/or differently from one another. In this way, quasi-continuous operation can ultimately be achieved if required.

In terms of control technology and functionally, it is preferred, particularly for improved flexibility, if the duration of at least one cycle during processing and/or filling in the at least one processing station and/or the at least one filling station exceeds the duration of a cycle at least substantially by twice, three times, four times or five times the duration of the cycle of the mandrel wheel. The number of mandrels which do not take over packaging blanks in the take-over position can then be adapted to this increase in cycle time, namely as a function of the number of packaging blanks which have previously been taken over in succession from the mandrels in the take-over station. This means that the initial gap between specific packagings after the transfer station can be closed again at a later stage in order not to reduce the throughput unnecessarily.

The method described can also be carried out mechanically simply and reliably by transferring the packaging blanks to a mandrel wheel with four, five or six mandrels. Corresponding mandrel wheels have proven themselves and ensure a compact design of the plant.

The successive cells of the transport device are preferably transported at least in sections and/or temporally by the transport device individually or at least in groups independently of other successive cells or at least groups of successive cells. This allows different cycle times at the same time with regard to the groups of successive cells or at least groups of successive cells, as the cells are not kept at a fixed distance from each other. Thus it is also possible, if necessary, that individual successive cells or at least groups of successive cells are accelerated or decelerated locally in the meantime independently of other cells in order to be able to realize certain processing times and/or filling times without mutual obstruction of the cells among one another.

If the successive cells are connected to one another exclusively via at least one guide of the transport device and not directly to each other, the individual cells can be transported very individually and as required independently of other cells. The cells follow the same transport path due to the transport device. However, the speed profiles of certain cells may differ at certain times. For example, the distance between two cells can increase and/or decrease in sections. This is not contradicted by the fact that each cell is moved in the same way and with the same speed profile if necessary. However, since the cells are at different locations at a given time, the speed profiles may still differ at that time. When using corresponding speed profiles, it can be particularly useful if the cells are not moved in a clocked manner or only to a limited extent.

Alternatively or additionally, the packages open on one side can be carried and transported in successive cells by different cell carriers. This makes it easy to transport several cells in parallel transverse to the transport direction of the cells using a single cell carrier and, if required, with a single transport device. In this connection, the successive cell carriers are not connected to one another as required, for example if the movement profiles of the cell carriers are to be independent of one another at least in sections. In other words, it may be expedient if the cell carriers are not connected to each other directly but indirectly via the transport device and are transported in the same way.

A very precise and, if necessary, also individual transport of the cells can be achieved, the successive cells and/or the successive cell carriers being transported at least in sections by at least one linear drive and/or at least one belt drive of the transport device. This applies in particular if the cells or packagings have to be decelerated and accelerated, whether for clocked operation or for running specific speed profiles.

The method has been described in particular for a processing line in which packagings are transported in a row, albeit not necessarily in a straight line. However, the method is not limited to such applications. Rather, the method can also be applied to plants such as filling machines with several parallel processing lines. Then preferably several parallel rows of packagings are handled and transported in the described manner. Alternatively or additionally it will be preferred if each processing line has a separate mandrel wheel and/or separate processing stations and/or filling stations. Nevertheless, the mandrel wheels, processing stations and/or filling stations can be operated uniformly.

The invention is explained in greater detail below by means of a drawing merely depicting an exemplary embodiment. The following are shown in the drawing:

FIG. 1 a filling machine executing a method according to the invention in a schematic side view,

FIG. 2 a packaging for executing a method according to the invention in a perspective view and

FIG. 3A-C method steps of a further method according to the invention in a schematic representation.

FIG. 1 shows a filling machine 1 for processing and filling packagings 2 in the form of cardboard composite packagings, in particular with free-flowing foodstuffs, comprising a moulding device 3 for the forming of packages 2. The depicted and to that extent preferred device 1 has a number of parallel working lines, in particular four or six working lines, of which only one working line is shown in FIG. 1. Each processing line is assigned a bundle 4 of packaging blanks 5 in the form of package material blanks, the longitudinal edges of which are sealed together to form packaging sleeves, which are kept folded. Packaging blanks 5 are unfolded by a feeding device 6, wherein, if necessary, an application device can also be provided for applying pouring elements not depicted to the packaging blanks 5.

Moulding device 3 for the forming of package 2 has a mandrel wheel 7 which, in the depicted and to that extent preferred case comprises six mandrels 8 and rotates cyclically, i.e. gradually, anticlockwise. In the first mandrel wheel position I, the associated mandrel is in the take-over station 9 and a packaging blank 5 is pushed onto the mandrel 8. Then, in the next mandrel wheel position II, the mandrel wheel 7 is turned further into a first moulding station 10, in which the end area of the packaging blank 5 projecting from the mandrel 8 is heated with hot air via a heating unit 11. In the next mandrel wheel position III, the heated end area of the packaging blank 5 is pre-folded in the second moulding station 12 by a press 13, and in the following mandrel wheel position IV or the following moulding station 14 in the folded position is sealed tightly, especially to a bottom, by a sealing device, not described in greater detail. In this way a packaging 2 closed on one side is obtained, which is removed from the mandrel 8 in the subsequent mandrel wheel position V in a transfer station 15 and transferred to a cell 16 of an endless transport device 14 guided in a circle in the depicted and to that extent preferred device 1. No moulding station is assigned to mandrel 9 in the next mandrel wheel position VI. The number of mandrel wheel positions or mandrels and the processing steps provided there can, if required, deviate from the depiction according to FIG. 1 and the associated description.

Packagings 2 are transported with the open end pointing upwards in the respective cells 13 through an aseptic chamber 18 which is closed laterally and downwards in the depicted and to that extent preferred filling machine 1 and which comprises a sterilisation zone 19 and a filling and sealing zone 20, through which packagings 2 are transported from left to right in the transport direction symbolized by the arrows. Packagings 2 do not have to be transported in a straight line, but can also be transported in at least one are or even in a circle.

Sterile air is supplied to the aseptic chamber 18 via appropriate sterile air connections 21. Packagings 2 are successively preheated in a first processing station 22 by a preheating device by being blown with hot sterile air. Packagings 2 are then sterilised in a further processing station 23 by means of a sterilising agent, preferably hydrogen peroxide, whereupon packagings 2 are dried by exposure to sterile air via a drying device in a third processing station 24 and, after the passage from the sterilisation zone 19 to the filling and sealing zone 20, are transferred to a filling station 26 in a filling position below a filling outlet 25. Packagings 2 are successively filled with foodstuff there. The filled packagings 2 are then closed with a closing device 27 in a final processing station 28 by folding the upper part of the packaging 2 and sealing it to form a package. The closed packagings 2 are then removed from the cells 16 of the transport device 17. The now empty cells 16 are moved further in the direction of the mandrel wheel 7 by the transport device 17 in order to pick up further packagings 2 there.

In the take-over station 9, four packaging blanks 5 are always taken over one after another from the mandrels 8 of the mandrel wheel 7, which continues to rotate in a constant cycle. After the four packaging blanks 5 have been taken over, a mandrel 8 of the mandrel wheel 7 passes the take-over station 9 without taking over a packaging blank 5. Consequently, in the transfer station 15, four packagings 2 open on one side are also taken over one after another at cells 16 of the transport device 17. If the mandrel 8 passes the transfer station 15 without packaging 2, accordingly no packaging 2 is transferred to a cell 16. In addition, however, no cell 16 is transported further into the aseptic chamber 18 with the transport device 17. This only occurs when the next packaging 2 is transferred to a cell 16 in the transfer station 15.

Consequently, groups of four packagings 2 are always transported one after another from transfer station 15 into the aseptic chamber 18. There is a gap between these groups of packagings 2, which is larger than the gap between cells 16 or packagings 2 of the group of packagings 2 among each other by approximately the increment of one cell 16 in one cycle. In other words, after four packagings 2 there is a vacancy around a cycle in which no packaging 2 is transported. In this connection, it is detected or specified where the corresponding vacancies are located in filling machine 1 and how these vacancies move through filling machine 1. If necessary, a processing station 22,23,24,28 and/or filling station 26 can interrupt processing and/or filling if there is no packaging 2 in the processing station 22,23,24,28 and/or filling station 26. The corresponding method can be used, for example, to generate less throughput without having to shut down the filling machine 1 in the interim and restart it later. The extent to which the throughput is reduced can be adjusted, if necessary, by varying the number of packaging blanks 5 transferred in succession in a row to the mandrels 8 passing the take-over station 9 and/or the number of mandrels 8 subsequently passing the take-over station 9, which do not take over any packaging blank.

FIG. 2 shows a packaging blank 5 as it is heated, for example, in the filling machine 1 described above and then closed on one side. Packagings 2 are in particular cardboard composite packagings made of a corresponding package material 30 in the form of a laminate or package material laminate, with at least one cardboard layer, if necessary at least one barrier layer, for example consisting of aluminium, polyamide and/or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol, and outer layers of a thermoplastic, in particular polyethylene (PE). The longitudinal edges 31 of the package material blank formed from the package material 30 have already been sealed together. This means that the longitudinal edges of the package material blank have been overlapped on top of each other and sealed together in this position. At the two open ends 32,33 of the packaging sleeve 6, a bottom moulding area 34 is provided to form the bottom and a gable moulding area 35 to form the gable of the package. For this purpose, the corresponding areas are folded together at the folding lines 36 provided for this purpose.

FIG. 3A-C shows a method sequence that can be carried out in principle with the filling machine 1 shown schematically in FIG. 1. This method sequence can be used to reduce the throughput in order to fill stronger foaming products or to fill larger volumes per packaging 2. Regarding stronger foaming products, over-foaming can be prevented by slower filling or longer downtimes between the end of filling and the re-acceleration of packaging 2 for transport out of filling station 26. If a larger volume is to be filled, for example because larger packagings 2 are transported to filling station 26 after a changeover, this requires a longer filling time, especially with foaming products. Regardless of the above-mentioned reason, the desired effect is achieved if the duration of the cycle in filling station 26 is extended. However, if the cycles of mandrel wheel 7 and/or the cycles in the preceding processing stations 22,23,24,28 are not also to be slowed down, no packaging blank 5 must be transferred to a mandrel 8 of mandrel wheel 7 at regular intervals to compensate for the longer cycle time in filling station 26.

In the depicted method, three packaging blanks 5 are always taken over from the mandrels 8 of the mandrel wheel 7 in sequence. Then no packaging blank 5 is taken over on two subsequent mandrels 8 in take-over station 9, before again three packaging blanks 5 are taken over one after another from mandrels 8 in take-over station 9. This results in the forming of a gap 40 between the groups of three packagings 2 or cells 16 after the transfer of the packagings 2 open on one side to the cells 16 of the transport device 17, which corresponds to about two cycles or the increments of two cycles. Given that the cycle before the filling station 16 is shorter, in particular equal to the cycle of the mandrel wheel 7, and in the filling station 26 and thereafter slower, a distance 41 is provided between the processing station 24 for drying the packagings 2 and the filling station 26, which corresponds at least approximately to the gap 40 between the groups of packagings 2 after the transfer to the transport device 17 in the transfer station 15.

Packagings 2 and cells 16 waiting in line before filling station 26 are transported further at a slower rate than the packages 2 of the next group of packagings 2 because of the slower cycle during filling, as the cycle times of these packagings 2 are shorter. The original gap 40 between the groups of packagings 2 and the distance 41 between processing station 24 immediately before filling station 26 is now configured in such a way that when the last packaging 2 of a group of packagings 2 is filled or has been filled, the following group of packagings 2 has gradually closed the gap with the preceding group of packagings 2, of which the last packaging 2 is still in filling station 26.

In the described method, the cycles following filling, in particular the cycle of the processing station 28 for closing packaging 2 to form a package, are also slowed down in the same way as the cycle in filling station 26, as this is permissible and does not affect the closing of packaging 2. However, it would also be conceivable to carry out these cycles faster, especially with the same cycle times as the mandrel wheel 7. Nor is it necessary to provide that the groups of packagings 2 before the slower processing station 22,23,24,28 and/or filling station 26 completely close the gap with the previous group of packagings 2. It is also possible that at least in one of the processing stations 22,24,26,28 a cycle is provided which is slower than the cycle of mandrel wheel 7. It is also possible if this applies to at least one of the processing stations 22,23,24,28 and at least one filling station 26. According to the method principle described above, the filling machine 1 can be operated as basically very flexible and expediently adapted to different requirement profiles. This is particularly the case if a sufficient distance 41 is provided in filling machine 1 between certain stations, i.e. at least one processing station 22,23,24,28 and/or a filling station 26, in order to be able to close a correspondingly large gap 40 between successive groups of packagings 2 if necessary. 

1. A method for processing and/or filling packagings, in particular cardboard composite packagings, in a processing and/or filling machine in which packaging blanks are transferred in a take-over station cyclically one after another to the mandrels, passing the take-over station, of a cyclically rotating mandrel wheel; in which regularly after a certain number of packaging blanks have been taken over in the take-over station by the mandrels passing the take-over station, no packaging blank is transferred in the take-over station to a further certain number of mandrels subsequently passing the take-over station, in which in at least one moulding station the packaging blanks transferred to the mandrel wheel in the take-over station are processed cyclically on a mandrel of the mandrel wheel, in which, after passing the at least one moulding station in a transfer station, packagings which are open on one side are cyclically transferred in succession from the mandrel wheel to all cells of a transport device passing the transfer station, and in which the packagings transferred to the cells and open on one side are fed in the cells of the transport device to at least one processing station for processing and/or at least one filling station for filling.
 2. The method according to claim 1, in which the packagings transferred to the cells and open on one side are stopped cyclically in the cells of the transport device in at least one processing station for processing and/or in at least one filling station for filling.
 3. The method according to claim 1, in which the processing and/or filling duration, in particular the duration of a cycle during processing and/or filling, in the at least one processing station and/or the at least one filling station is longer than the duration of a cycle of the mandrel wheel.
 4. The method according to claim 2, in which a distance is provided between two successive processing stations between two successive filling stations, a processing station and a subsequent filling station and/or between a filling station and a subsequent processing station, which distance is longer than the distance covered by the cells in one cycle and in which, preferably, the distance at least substantially corresponds to the gap between the last packaging transferred in the transfer station of a specific number of packagings transferred to the cells and the first packaging transferred in the transfer station of a subsequent specific number of packagings transferred to the cells after a specific number of mandrels of the mandrel wheel not provided with packaging blanks have passed the transfer station.
 5. The method according to claim 1, in which in at least one moulding station the packaging blanks transferred to the mandrel wheel in the take-over station are cyclically folded, heated, scaled and/or closed on one side on a mandrel of the mandrel wheel.
 6. The method according to claim 1, in which the packagings, which are transferred to the cells and are open on one side, are stopped in the cells of the transport device cyclically in at least one processing station for heating, sterilising, drying and/or closing.
 7. The method according to claim 1, in which regularly after the take-over of one, two, three, four or five packaging blanks in the take-over station to the mandrels passing the take-over station, no packaging blank is transferred in the take-over station to one, two, three, four or five mandrels subsequently passing the take-over station.
 8. The method according to claim 1, in which the duration of at least one cycle during processing and/or filling in the at least one processing station and/or the at least one filling station exceeds the duration of the cycle of the mandrel wheel at least substantially by twice, three times, four times or five times.
 9. The method according to claim 1, in which the packaging blanks are transferred to a mandrel wheel with four, five or six mandrels.
 10. The method according to claim 1, in which the successive cells of the transport device are transported by the transport device individually or at least in groups at least in sections and/or temporally independently of other successive cells or at least groups of successive cells.
 11. The method according to claim 1, in which the successive cells are connected to one another exclusively via at least one transport device, in particular via at least one guide of the transport device.
 12. The method according to claim 1, in which the packagings open on one side are transported in successive cells of different, successive and separate cell carriers, in particular not directly connected to one another.
 13. The method according to claim 1, in which the successive cells and/or the successive cell carriers are transported at least in sections by at least one linear drive and/or at least one belt drive of the transport device. 